By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
Allmyxsliventexas,
perfect in three starts at this meet since coming back from Chicago, looks to
keep the streak going in Sunday night’s featured $7,200 Open Pace.
Watch
and Wager LLC will present 12 races with first post set for 4:55 p.m. and the
main event will go as the eighth event on the evening.
A
now 8-year-old homebred son of Hi Ho Silverheel’s, Allmyxsliventexas carries
the banner of Wayne and Rod Knittel with Bob Johnson the conditioner.
He
has been assigned the outside post in the field of 10, which also includes his
highly-regarded barnmate Proof, who will leave just to his inside in the No. 9
slot.
The
Knittel colorbearer comes into this assignment with 42 wins from his 136
starts, $245,000 in his bank account and a 1:50 lifetime standard that was
established over the seven-eighths Hoosier Park layout.
Allmyxsliventexas
last suited up two weeks ago in the Dave Goldshmidt Pace and proved to be a
punctual 4-5 favorite with Nick Roland at the helm. He made two moves to the
lead at the half, took control of things from that point and came to the wire
with two and three-quarter lengths to spare.
Completing
the field, from the rail out: Mystery Dragon, Royale Big Guy, Ponda’s Prospect,
Blue Star Maverick, Buddy’s Hope, Pecorino, Dependlebury A and Hoo Nien A.
Ariel
Alvarez making his mark
One
of the new names on the program belongs to Ariel Alvarez, a 25-year-old native
of Sacramento who took out his training license this past summer in Minnesota.
“I’ve
pretty much been around the horses my whole life because of my mom and dad,”
Alvarez related. “I guess I was about 19 when I made up my mind that this is
what I wanted to do.”
After
spending some time taking care of a horse for his mother, Ariel ended up
working for Tim Brown for a year, and then spent two years with Quentin,
Kimberly and Ricky Schneider.
Following
a stint in Indiana, Alvarez joined the Steve Wiseman and Kathy Plested barn to
continue his education. By this past summer at Running Aces, he was ready to go
out on his own and got to the winner’s circle with his fourth starter, a pacer
named E R Michael.
“I
learned so much from each and every one of the people I worked for,” Ariel
said. “I really want to thank them.”
There
are currently eight performers in the Alvarez barn, with Cal‘s Hope rating the
first stall and Lakota Law occupying the favorite’s role.
***
A
reminder that there are two wagers offered here each night with a reduced 16
percent takeout rate – the 20-cent early and late Pick 5 and the 20-cent Pick
4, with the latter sporting a $25,000-guaranteed gross pool.
